Poetry at the Albany Library presents a poetry reading by Robert Hass, Pulitzer Prize-winner and former U.S. Poet Laureate, and Christina Hutchins, the first Poet Laureate of Albany; both of these acclaimed poets have served as Dartmouth Poet in Residence at The Frost Place in New Hampshire, the poet Robert Frost's former home, open mic follows; this is the last event in this celebrated twelve-year series to be hosted by Catherine Taylor, Albany Library, Edith Stone Room, 1247 Marin Avenue, Albany, free, 7:00-9:00 (510/526-3720, albanylibrary.wordpress.com)

Simeon Marsalis reads from his first book A Lie Is to Grin: A Novel, shortlisted for the 2017 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, free, 7:00 (www.citylights.com)

Poetry reading by Sally Love Saunders to celebrate her 78th Birthday, open mic follows, Sacred Grounds Café, 2095 Hayes Street, San Francisco, free, to get a table, order food, and sign up for the open mic, come at 7:00, reading 7:30 (415/387-3859, www.facebook.com/groups/203539673028715)

Pacifica Writers Open Mic, open to all readers and writers of fiction, nonfiction and poetry, Florey's Book Company, 2120 Palmetto Avenue, Pacifica, free, 2:00-4:00 (www.facebook.com/events/1570488856373523)

Benefit for the North Bay poets who lost their homes in the recent fires, a reading with California State Poet Laureate Dana Gioia and Sonoma County Poet Laureate Iris Jamahl Dunkle, along with former Sonoma County Poets Laureate Terry Ehret, Katherine Hastings, Gwynn O'Gara, and Bill Vartnaw, Bird & Beckett Books & Records, 653 Chenery Street, San Francisco, all donations go to the poets affected by the Sonoma County fires, 2:00 (www.birdbeckett.com)

Discussion lead by activist and author Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, on her new book Loaded: A Disarming History of the Second Amendment, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, free, 7:00 (www.citylights.com)

Poetry Express presents a reading with poet and multi-media artist, Mare' Simonet, The Poet Next Door, followed by an open reading, Himalayan Flavors, 1585 University Avenue, Berkeley, free, 7:00-9:00 (poetryexpressberkeley.blogspot.com/p/about.html)

A tribute to the life and work of Denis Johnson, American novelist, poet and playwright, with Program Director of Theatre for Intersection for the Arts, Sean San José, playwright Octavio Solis, novelist and editor Vendela Vida, and other special guests celebrating his final collection of short fiction, The Largesse of the Sea Maiden, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, free, 7:00 (www.citylights.com/bookstore/?fa=event&event_id=3114)

Michael Benanav presents his new book Himalaya Bound: One Family's Quest to Save Their Animals and an Ancient Way of Life, stories of tribal cultures where Western ways of protecting the environment clash with an indigenous understanding of nature, Mrs. Dalloway's Literary & Garden Arts, 2904 College Avenue, Berkeley, free, 7:30 (510/704-8222, www.mrsdalloways.com)

Poetry at Florey's presents a reading and open mic featuring poets Laura Davis, Braiding the Storm, and Rosemary Ybarra-Garcia, New to North America: Writing by Immigrants, Their Children, and Grandchildren, Florey's Book Company, 2120 Palmetto Avenue, Pacifica, free, 7:00-9:30 (www.facebook.com/pg/FloreysBookCo/posts)

City Lights and the Rock and Roll Book Club of San Francisco present a discussion with Greil Marcus, music journalist, cultural critic, and author, and Jenn Pelly, author and editor at Pitchfork, about her book The Raincoats, the first ever written about this feminist punk band, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, free, 7:00 (www.citylights.com/bookstore/?fa=event&event_id=3116)